Picture hanger



p 1, 1964 w. N. WHEELER 3,146,981

PICTURE HANGER Filed March 15, 1963 egww William N- Wheeler IN VENTOR.

BY WM 14% United States Patent 3,146,981 PICTURE HANGER William N.Wheeler, 216 Sycamore Road, Lexington, Ky. Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No.265,493 5 Claims. (Cl. 24828) The present invention relates towall-supported nailattached picture hangers of a type wherein the hangeris provided with an upturned or an equivalent book which, under ordinarycircumstances of use functions to seat and suspend a picture or framesuspension wire, that is, the median portion thereof in a now well knownmanner and pertains, more particularly, to hangers which are used inpairs and which, instead of supporting the suspension wire serve tosupport specially designed screw eyes which are provided on anattachable side of a picture, frame or the like.

As is usually the case and in keeping with present-day and prevailingpicture hanging practices the frame of the picture is provided on itswall confronting side with the aforementioned suspension Wire. Usuallythe ends of the wire are fastened or anchored at oppositely disposedpoints on the end members of the picture frame leaving the length ofwire therebetween of such length that the bight portion thereof can belooped over the seating hook of the wall bracket or hanger. Experiencehas shown that the foregoing method and means is possessed of certaindifficulties and objections in that the picture is often vibrated orjarred or otherwise shifted from its intended well hung position withthe result that it is not level and consequently assumes an undesirabledisplaced position which, to most people, is intolerable and requiresattention. This tendency of pictures, as ordinarily hung, to becomemisaligned and unlevel has given rise to the necessity of takingmeasures and the following proper steps which are corrective in natureand which are intended to maintain a picture or the like in a level,straight-appearing and constantly stabilized position.

One prior art adaptation which can, if desired, be referred to as priorart is the picture frame stablilizer covered in U.S. Patent No. 1,177,106. Another accomplishment constituting representative prior art isthe picture hanger covered in Patent No. 2,384,487 which is mentionedhere because of the fact that it shows a plurality of wall supports andmeans on the picture frame having proper coaction therewith so that thetwo supports function to maintain desired stability and overcome thelikelihood of picture misalignment difiiculties.

The above reference patents have also been selected for reference herebecause of the fact that they show so-called conventional-type picturehanging brackets of the aforementioned nailable hook-equipped type andwherein the headed nail is driven by way of guide means into the wall ata diagonal easy anchorable angle. In carrying out the principles of thepresent invention one aspect thereof has to do with an improved walLtypehanger bracket which is novel in that it is provided on the centralportion of the back and at the bottom thereof with a positioning detentwhich is designed and adapted to seat itself in a recess 0r keeper seatprovided therefor. At the central top portion it is provided with aforwardly and outwardly bent lug which constitutes a stabilizer and nailguide and the free edge of the return bent upper end portion isfashioned into a substantially V-shaped seat for reception and guidedutilization of the anchoring nail.

Another aspect of the invention which is deemed to be an improvement inthe art has to do with the use of the aforementioned improved wallbrackets in pairs with the brackets spaced apart at the predeterminedlevel on the wall and anchored in place. With this arrangementcooperable eye screws (which are provided on the upper back portion ofthe picture or other frame) can be simultaneously but releasablyconnected with the suspending hook portions of the paired bracketswhereby to thus permit the picture to be readily applied and removed andconstantly supported at the desired level with assured stability.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective which shows (at the left) the rearupper portion of a picture or an equivalent frame or the like with theimproved eye screws thereon and which further shows (at the right) afragmentary portion of the wall or other stationary support providedwith the desired pair of complemental picture hangers or hangerbrackets;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view with parts in section and parts inelevation showing the picture opposed to the wall and illustrating asingle hanger bracket and a single cooperating screw eye and the mannerin which each is constructed and the manner in which they cooperate witheach other in providing the desired separable connection between thepicture and wall;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view with parts in section and elevation takenapproximately on the plane of the section line 33 of FIGURE 2 looking inthe direction of the indicating arrow;

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective of one of the improved screw eyes; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of one of the improved bracketslooking at the wall contacting side or surface thereof.

As will be hereinafter observed and by way of introduction to thedescription of the details it will be observed that the presentinvention, with the principal component parts considered in combinationrequires the use of fewer parts, does away with the usual hanger wireand customary screw eyes on the picture frame. It overcomes diflicultiesencountered in hanging pictures and the like on a wall or other supportsurface especially if the picture is very large and it prevents thelikelihood, as is ordinarily the case, of the suspended picture beingdisplaced to an undesirable position when struck with a vacuum cleanerhandle, by a child or in some other manner swung to an undesirablecocked position. Referring now to FIGURE 1 the picture or other framewhich is to be hung on the wall A is denoted here generally by thereference letter B, the upper flat side C being opposed to the wall inthe manner illustrated, for eX- ample, in the arrangement seen in FIGURE2. The concept has to do not only with a clasp B but the fact that A isprovided at a desired point with a pair of duplicate oppositely disposedpicture hangers or brackets which are generally denoted individually bythe numeral 6. These brackets thus positioned serve to accommodate thecooperating screw eyes 8 which are provided on the side C. Each screweye comprises an elongated link-shaped eye proper as at 10 one barportion of which is provided with a lateral screw threaded attachingshank 12. The other bar member or portion 14 is provided on the exteriorside with a central pointed indenting and marking member here referredto as a prong 16. There are two such screw eyes in use as illustrated inFIGURE 1 and they are both the same in construction. These eyes areaccommodated by the duplicated hanger brackets 6. Each bracket comprisesa generally flat surfaced body or plate 18 which is approximatelyrectangular and which has a ledge-like hook portion 20 bent forwardlyfrom the lower edge 28 and which in turn is provided with an upstandingbill portion 22 with a later-ally flared lip 24 to facilitate attachmentof the eye 10 thereto. At the median portion just above the bend 21 thebracket is provided with an outstanding pointed stud which constitutesan anti-slipping detent 26. The lower portion of the plate is denoted at28 to distinguish it from the upper portion wherein an upper end 30 isbent laterally or outwardly as at 32 to provided the nail placementguide and stabilizing means. The free end is bent downwardly andrearwardly as at 34 and is joined by a return bend 36 to the bent endportion 30 and at the center of the return bend a nail hole 38 isprovided to accommodate the readily insertable and removable attachingand retaining nail 40. It should be noted in this connection that thefree lip portion of the bent terminal is bent into gentle V-shaped formas at 42 and defines a nominal but effective seat which assists inpiloting and seating the nail 40 when it is applied and driven to itsanchored position. The median upper portion has a tongue 44 strucktherefrom and this tongue has its free edge spaced from the slopingterminal portion 34 and constitutes a further guide and stabilizingmember. Consequently this hanger features in addition to the usual typethe added seating guide 42 and stabilizing lug 44 and positioning detent26.

It will be evident that the opening 38 cooperates with the complementalor companion opening 39 in the plate proper to facilitate placement andanchoring of the nail.

The screw eyes 8 are screwed into the rear face C of each side of thepicture frame B close to the top of the frame. The linking eyes of thescrew eyes are both turned to assume a horizontal position. The frame Bis then held at armslength with the hands holding the sides of the frameat the place where the screw eyes have been attached. The frame B can bepositioned against the wall A in the desired place and leveled accordingto the users eyesight. After the frame is positioned the points 16 ofeach screw eye are forcibly pressed against the wall leaving smallindentations or depressions in the Wall surface. Now, lay the frameaside and press a nail 40 in one of the wall brackets or fixtures 6 sothat the point of the nail will be back flush with the back face of thebracket. Place the bracket on the wall so the seating and positioningdetent 26 of the bracket will seat in one of the selected depressions inthe wall. Holding the bracket in this position on the wall and with onehand the suitably angled nail can be driven into the wall with a hammerin the other hand. The nail being securely held in the bracket beforedriving it into the wall makes it easier, quicker and more exacting infixing the bracket to the wall. The same procedure is followed in fixingthe other bracket to the wall. The frame with its linking eyes 8 is thenheld in approximately the same manner as before with a forefinger ofeach hand extending around behind the frame to position the screw eyeopenings over the hooks (20, 22, 24) of the brackets 6.

It is submitted that a careful consideration of the specification inconjunction with the views of the drawing and other exemplary aspects ofthe disclosure will enable the reader to obtain a clear andcomprehensive understanding not only of the nature of the subject matterof the invention but the significant features and advantages and mannerof satisfactorily utilizing the invention. Therefore, a more extendeddescription is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a vertical wall constituting a stationary support, awall-type picture embodying frame means opposed in spaced rel ation tothe surface of the wall, and picture-supporting, aligning, leveling andstabilizing means interposed between the wall surface and a cooperatingsurface of the picture frame, said means embodying a pair of spacedhanger brackets fixedly mounted on the surface of the wall, and a pairof adapter members carried by the picture frame and separablyconneotible with component parts provided therefor on the respectivelycooperable brackets, and wherein each bracket comprises a plate-typebody superimposed upon the Wall surface with which it is cooperable,said bracket being provided at a lower end thereof with a suspensionhook and at an upper end portion with nail piloting, guiding andretaining means, there being a driven nail cooperable removably withsaid means and anchored in the wall, said body having a projectingdetent seated in a depression which is provided therefor in the surfaceof said support wall.

2. In combination, a vertical wall constituting a stationary support, awall-type picture embodying frame means opposed in spaced relation tothe surface of the Wall, and picture-supporting, aligning, leveling andstabilizing means interposed between the wall surface and a cooperatingsurface of the picture frame, said means embodying a pair of spacedhanger brackets fixedly mounted on the surface of the wall, and a pairof adapter members carried by the picture frame and separablyconnectible with component parts provided therefor on the respectivelycooperable brackets, the adapter members on said picture framecomprising a pair of screw eyes mounted opposite each other and inspaced apart coplanar relationship, each eye being provided with alaterally outwardly projecting bracket-position marking prong.

3. For use in hanging a picture or the like on a wall surface, a picturehanger bracket comprising a plate-type body having a generally flatsurface adapted to be placed against a Wall surface and having anoutwardly projecting pointed detent, said bracket being provided at itsbottom with a forwardly upwardly projecting hook, being provided at itstop with lateral and return bent portions cooperating and definingguiding and stabilizing means for an insertable and removable nail, saidmeans having a terminal V-shaped lip portion providing a seat for thenail, also having a struck-out tongue disposed above but in closeproximity to said seat portion and adapted to cooperate with the shankof the nail.

4. For use on and in conjunction with a picture frame, an improvedscrew-eye having an elongated eye portion generally rectangular in plan,a screw-threaded shank integral with and projecting laterally from amedian portion of one lengthwise side of the eye portion, and aconicalshaped wall indenting and marking member integrally mounted on amedian portion of an opposed lengthwise side of said eye portion andhaving its axis in axial alignment with the axis of said shank, said eyeportion being rectangular in plan.

5. For use in hanging a picture frame on a stationary wall or anequivalent surface, a nailable hanger bracket comprising a onepiece bodyembodying a generally fiat 5 plate portion having a surface thereofwhich is adapted to be placed against said wall surface, said brackethaving a bottom end portion provided with a forwardly upwardlyprojecting hook for reception and retention of a hanger eye provided ona screw eye, said body being provided at the top of said plate portionwith an outstanding laterally bent portion and a c ornplemental returnbent portion, the latter having a free lower end disposed in closeproximity to and at the lower end of a nail accommodating slot providedin said plate portion, that portion at the juncture of the upper lateralbent portion and depending return bent portion being provided with anail accommodating References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,609,837 Salt Dec. 7, 1926 1,794,327 Simon Feb. 24, 19312,105,061 Tate et al Jan. 11, 1938 3,031,159 Waller Apr. 24, 1962

1. IN COMBINATION, A VERTICAL WALL CONSTITUTING A STATIONARY SUPPORT, AWALL-TYPE PICTURE EMBODYING FRAME MEANS OPPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TOTHE SURFACE OF THE WALL, AND PICTURE-SUPPORTING, ALIGNING, LEVELING ANDSTABILIZING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE WALL SURFACE AND A COOPERATINGSURFACE OF THE PICTURE FRAME, SAID MEANS EMBODYING A PAIR OF SPACEDHANGER BRACKETS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON THE SURFACE OF THE WALL, AND A PAIROF ADAPTER MEMBERS CARRIED BY THE PICTURE FRAME AND SEPARABLYCONNECTIBLE WITH COMPONENT PARTS PROVIDED THEREFOR ON THE RESPECTIVELYCOOPERABLE BRACKETS, AND WHEREIN EACH BRACKET COMPRISES A PLATE-TYPEBODY SUPERIMPOSED UPON THE WALL SURFACE WITH WHICH IT IS COOPERABLE,SAID BRACKET BEING PROVIDED AT A LOWER END THEREOF WITH A SUSPENSIONHOOK AND AT AN UPPER END PORTION WITH NAIL PILOTING, GUIDING ANDRETAINING MEANS, THERE BEING A DRIVEN NAIL COOPERABLE REMOVABLY WITHSAID MEANS AND ANCHORED IN THE WALL, SAID BODY HAVING A PROJECTINGDETENT SEATED IN A DEPRESSION WHICH IS PROVIDED THEREFOR IN THE SURFACEOF SAID SUPPORT WALL.